MARGAO
Exactly six years after laying the foundation stone for the multi-level parking project in the commercial capital, the Margao municipality has tendered the parking project, the second time in three years, at a cost of Rs 6.57 crore.
Madgavkars in particular and Saxttikars in general, however, will have to wait for the next one year and a half, if one goes by the deadline set by the civic body, for the multi-level parking to take concrete shape.
For, the civic body by its own estimate has set the prospective contract time of 540 days to complete the project, indicating that the motorists will have to fend for themselves to look out for parking space in the commercial capital in the next year and a half.
Margao Municipal Council Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes informed that the multi-level parking project has been finally tendered at a cost of Rs 6.57 core. He said the Director of Urban Development had accorded administrative approval to utilize Rs 7.55 crore for the construction of the multi-level parking lot at the old fish market, behind the municipal building.
While the civic body had received around Rs three crore golden jubilee grants around a decade ago to take up a signature project, the DMA has told the MMC to arrange the balance funds from the Finance Commission funds or from the municipal funds.
This is the second time in the last three years that the MMC has tendered the multi-level parking project. Last time around, the civic body had tendered the project, but it could not see the light of day in view of the introduction of the GST and old GSR rates, forcing the contractor to quit.
The MMC Chief Officer pointed out that the MMC has in its coffers the funds required to fund the multi-level parking, adding that work on the project would kick start no sooner the civic body finalizes the contractor.
“The Civic body is keen on ensuring that work on the multi-level parking starts as early as possible. Parking is a major issue facing the commercial capital. The civic body will ensure that the project takes shape within the set time frame,” Agnelo added.
